Mining and loading machine.



N. D. LEVIN. MINING AND LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION man Aue. 7. 1913.

1,290,021 Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I- WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

MTM-I BY N. D. LEVIN. M|N|NG AND LOADING MAcmNE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7.|9I3. 1,290,021

WITNESSES; Fly 4 INVENTOR. MJ/W M 5 A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 31,1918-,r

N. D. LEI/1N. MINING AND LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I. I9I3. 1,290,021, Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 3- I 55 46' 5536 34 NVENTOR.

A TTORNE MTNESSES,

Wim

N. n. LEVIN. A MINING AND LOADING MACHINE.

v APPLICATION FILED AUG.. 1913- n 1,290,021 Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 4.

I A TTORNE Y.

UNTTELD STAT s PATENT onirica. l

NILS LEVIN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASS-IGNOR TO THE -TEliltEY MANUFACTURINGi COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

' i MINING AND LOADING MACHINE.

Speoincation of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Original application led August 7, 1913, v.Serial No. 783,564. Dividedin part and this application led August 7, 1913. Serial No. 783,565.

- Machines, of which the following is a specificaticn, reference beinghad therein to the "device adapted to attack the coal wall lo?accompanyin drawing.

The inventlo-n relates to mlning and loading machines which are providedwith means for undermining coal 1n its natural bed, means for breakingit down out of the said bed, and means for loading it onto cars by meansof which it is removed' from the mine.

I am well aware that machines for this class of work have beenheretofore proposed, but according to earlier proposals, machinesconstructed to carry on the three operations,

above enumerated have beenadapted only to attack a -coal face.substantially perpen dicularly. According to my invention the machinecan Ibe moved in a curved path substantially parallelly to the curvedforward face of a mine roomand vcan undercut and break down a longcurved strip of coal 'and convey the broken coal to points relativelyremote from the face. One object of my invention therefore is to providea machine having its parts arranged as above described to move in acurved path. Another object of the invention is to provide in a machineadapted to move substantially parallelly to a coal face whether oncurved li'nes or straight lines, the combination of an undercuttingmeans, and a Ibreaking down cated behind the undercutting means and in aplane transverse and substantially per endicula-r to the main face ofthe coal. till further objects of the invention are to provide certainimproved features of constructioirwhich will be fully apparent from thefollowing specification; -In the accompanying drawings I have shownconstructions which are intendedmerely to be illustrative of theinvention and various modifications and changes can bem'ade within thescope of thgclaims appended to the specification.

0f the drawingsl Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine inoperative position in a mine.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the ma'.- chine in detail.

Fig. 4 is a side View showing the machin in detail.-

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing the breakingdown device.I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6--6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view-.taken along the line 7-7 of' Fig. 3. i Y

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing part of the-breaking down device.

Fig. 9 is another detail view showing a part of the breaking downIdevice.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view guide-ways on a cutter-head 3secured to the main frame casting 4. The sprocket wheel l2 is carried bya vertical head shaft 5 which is journaled in suitable 'bearings 6 and7. Near the upper end of the shaft 5 is a master gear 8 which mesheswith the pin- .ion 9 on the armature shaft of the motor 10. Convenientlylocated on the main frame is a bracket 11 in which is journaled a feedshaft 12 carrying a feed` drum 13. 14 is ,a rope ada ted to be4 Wound atone end upon the feed g other end to a suitable jack 15 which is solocated that the strain on the rope will draw the cutter head into thecoal to be cut. Keyed toithe upper end of the feed shaft 12 is awonm'wheel 16 which is driven by a worm 17 secured to the shaft 18. Theshaft 18 is journaled in 'suitable bearings on the main frame andcarries a ratchet wheel 19 which can be engaged by a pawl 20. The pawl1s mounted on Aan arm 21 which is mounted tovoscillate about the shaft18 as al rum 13 and to be connected at the ofthe ratchet Wheel 19 arearms 24, the

outer ends of which are connected together by a trunnioned nut. Threadedin this nut is a screw 26 which is connected to the main of engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet broken down -upon it.

cylinder Wheel. A hand wheel 28 is secured to the screw 26 and by meansof this hand wheel the screw can be adjustedto move the shield withrespect' to the pawl. As oscillated by means of the arms 21 it will beheld out of engagement with wheel 19--during more or less of its strokeaccording Ato the position 'of the shield 27. In this Way 'the operatormy means of the hand wheel 28 can control the rotation of the feed drum13.

The main frame casting 4 is extended over the floor -of the mine toforma flat p lateor pan 29.V This plate is positioned in the plane of thebottom of 4thekerf cut' by the undercutting mechanism and is adapted tobe pushed under any loose coal or slack and to receive any coal that maybe ,loosened and Formed at the extreme inward and rearward corner of theplate 29 is an upward extending flange I30.

Supported upon the flange 30 is a slideway 31 in which is mounted forlongitudinal adjustment a base casting 32. Upon this base casting thereis universally pivoted a pick mechanism which may be offany well knowntype. YThe preferred construction which is shown will be described ind-etail, but it will lie-understood that other forms of pick mechanismmay be used without deniy invention. The pick mech parting from anismshown consists of a main cylinder casting 33 in which there is slidablymounted a 34 carrying at its forward end a rod 35. Attached to theforward end of the rod 35 is a hammer 36 adapted to strike the end of apick tool 37 to drive it against the coal. Within the ,cylinder 34 aretwo springs 38 and 39, each bearing at one end on one end of thecylinder and at the other end against one side of the piston 40.Connected to the piston 40is a piston rod 41 which is connected by meansof the connecting rod 42 to a crank pin 43 on the Worm wheel 44. Theworm wheel meshes with a worm 45 on the shaft of a motor46 mounted'onthe frame casting 33. Formed on the main cylinder casting 33 aretrunnlons 47 which arejournaled in suitable bearings in upstanding arms48 lon a pivot castlng, 49. The casting 49 is provided with a bcarmgstud 50 which is seated in a suitable aperture in'the base casting 32.The castlng 32 is provided with a depending lug 51 having a threadedaperture adapted to rec eive and to be engaged by a rotary threaded rod52 which can be turned by means of the crank 53. The op'rator by turningthe crank '53 can mbve the casting 32 in the slide-way the pawl' is theratchet 31and thus adjust the whole pick mechanism longitudinally.

The pick tool 37 isfreely slidable in a guide-way, one part of which isformed integrally with the casting 33 and is indicated 1n the drawingsby 54. The'other part of the gulde-way consists of the plate 56 which ishinged tothe part 54 by means of the lugs 55, 55 and can be secured inplace by means of the bolt 57 and the nut 58. By means of thisconstruction the picktool can be readily secured in place and can bereadily loosened for remova Positioned within the forward end of thecylinder casting 33 is a solenoid 33a surround` ing the adjacent endsofthe hammer 36 and the pick tool 37. 'When this solenoid is en ergized itsets up magnetic currents through .I

the hammer and the pick tool aid serves to hold them in contact, thetool reciprocating with the hammer.

. Positioned on the main 33 is a handle 59by means mechanism can beswung verse aXis of-the trunnions 47 and about the vertical axis-of thebearing stud 50. By

cylinder casting of which the pick about the trans'- means of thishandle the operator has complete-control of the pick mechanism to effectvertical and transverse adjustment, and by means of the crank 53 caneffect longitudinal adjustment.

The machine here selected for illustrating one form embodying myinvention is provided with a pivot device adapted to Abe placed on thecenter line of the mine room or s entry being worked. This pivot devicecomprises a base plate 60 having a plurality of upward and inwardextending arms 61 which are joined to form a bearing 62. This bearing62Qcarries a vertical column 63, th .upper part of which isscrew-threaded for engagement with a threaded hand-wheel 64. Above thehand-wheel is a sleeve 65 at the upper end of which is a cap 66 which isadapted to,

engage the mine roof. By turning the handwheel the cap'can be forcedagainst the roof and the whole pivot device securely anchored in lace.

jivotally mounted on the column 63 and supported by the bearing 62 isthe head.

casting 67 of t-he conveyer 68. The frame of the conveyer extends fromthe head casting 67 to the base plate 29. This conveyer frame serves asa radial strut to guidethe operativev parts of the machine in a circularpath about the pivot devices as a center. The con-' veyer 68 comprisesan endless chain which travels in suitable guideways and carries hor- 4izontally eXtending fiights or Scrapers which push the material along asuitable trough. 69 is a head sprocket for the chain and this isjournaled upon a'sleeve 70 formed on the head casting 67.

The head sprocket 69fhas connected to ita. drive sprocket whee17l whichengaged by in the drawings by 7 4 and to this chain are attached flights75 adapted to engagematerial on the plate 29 and move it into and alongthe trough 76 which extends along the conveyer frame from the plate 29to a point of discharge near the head of the conveyer. The conveyerframe consists of suitable structural steel shapes 77 which are arrangedto serve as guides for the conveyer chain 74.

These guides are bolted at one end to the head casting 67 and at theother end to a casting `79 'secured to the plate 29 by means of bolts80. The foot sprocket for the chain is indicated by 81 and this ismounted upon apin 82 secured in a casting 83. The casting 83 isconnectedto the plate 29 by means or' bolts 84 which lextend throughslots in the casting. By means of a screw 85 the casting 83 togetherwith the foot sprocket can be adjusted with respect to the main part ofthe conveyer frame'to regulate the tension in the chain.

:The machine is also provided with a second conveyer 87 which is of thesame type as the main conveyer 87. It is mounted on a truck 88 havingwheels 89 resting on the rails of themine track 90. The inward end ofthe trough of the conveyer 87 is formed with a receiving hopper 91adapted to rest on the plate 60 between the arms 6l to rev worm gearingat 99 and the motor 101. This motor is mounted on the truck 88.

1 jack 15 ceive thefmaterial discharged from the gathering conveyer 68.An endless chain with- Scrapers 492 carries the material through thetrough 93 and discharges it into'a car 94 on the track 90. This conveyer87 is driven by the sprocket wheel 95, the chain 96, the sprocketvheel97, the vertical shaft 98, the

Referring to the operation of the machine, the pivot device is firstsecured in position at the center of aroom, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.The swinging part is initially positioned at the extreme right hand sideof the room and the feed rope is connected to a positioned at theextreme left handside. Posts or jacks 102 are placed along the curvedface of the room for holding the rope in position intermediate its ends.car 94 haying been lplaced in position the motors are started and themachine advances ,under the action of the feed mechanlsm.

As the 4machine advances under the influence of the feed mechanism theundercutting mechanism cuts the kerf at the bottom of the room into thecurved coal face, this kerf gradually increasing in depth to the centerof the room and decreasing in depth after the center of the room ispassed.' Obviously the stress on the machine will be less l 'i duringthe initial and ythe latter parts of the cut and the feed `mechanism cantherefore ments of coal which fall upon the plate 29 and are caught bythe conveyer flights 75 and moved up the conveyer trough. The

coal discharged from the first conveyer is caught, by the secondconveyer and finally deposited in the car. It will be seen that theoperator has full control of the pick mechanism to move it vertically orlaterally with v respect to the direction of movement or to move itlongitudinally. In this Iway it is possible to attack the Whole surfaceof the exposed rear wall which extends transversely to the face alongwhich the machine advances.

In Fig. 11 I have indicated diagrammatically the method of moving themachine bodily from one position of use to another. At the end of a cutthe swinging part of the machine is moved backward to the right hand ribof the room and then the feed rope is carried forward over a snatchblock on a jack 103 and is carried back and secured to the main pivotdevice whi-ch is then loosened. When the feed rope is wound it serves todraw the .whole machine bodily forward `into position indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 11. When this position is reached the pivot deviceis then secured in place and another cut is started.

7hen the cutting mechanism and its carrying frame are arranged, as inthe mechanism herein shown, to swing around a vertical axis, the freeface of the rear wall newly formed by the breaking mechanism, will beVin planes approximately longitudinal of the carrying frame although notexactly longitudinal in relation to the lines of the mine room orchamber. When the front face is more nearly fiat or straight,transversely, the plane of the newly broken face of the rear wall willbe approximately longitudinal, both in respect to the room and inreillustrated, or in mechanisms moving on straight lines, such as aretherein illustrated.

In my aforesaid application 7 83564 there are combined an undercuttingmechanism, breaking-down devices and a conveyer. 1 The breaking-downmeans in that apparatus are devices which have a wedging action and aremade active by the practically constant forward draft force exerted bythe feeding mechanism. In the present. apparatus the breaking down ofthe coal is effected by a blow-imparting pick mechanism having peculiaradvantages incident to it when constructed and related to the otherparts as is herein described.

The present mechanism is of a class readily distinguishable from headingor breast machines. The latter are each constructed and operated in suchway that the cutters and the cutter carriers, when at work, advancedirectly inward on longitudinal lines at right angles to the verticalplanes of the normal front coal face, for example the face at the innerend of a room, the latter being bounded along its sides by fixedvertical coal walls. Such breast or heading machines have been providedwith reciprocating coal breaking but the latter were arranged to strikeon longitudinal lines, that is,

blows lines parallel to the lines of the direct inward `longitudifl nalthrust ofthe cutters, and conveyers situated centrally between the sideshave been used with these heading machines.

Machines of the other class (which includes the present mechanism) aredesigned to have the principal movement of the cutter carrier, While atwork, occur, not on lines intersecting, but on lines parallel to thenormal front coal face, and to have a continuous traveling movementacross the entire face.

And with apparatus of this class, also, it has been proposed to combineconveyers lfor automatically taking the coal away from the face on linesat right angles thereto.

Some of the machines of this sort have been designed to get the coal outin blocks, smaller or larger, this to be done by forming multiple kerfs(horizontall or vertical or both) and kerfs formed by saw-like cuttersrotating in planes inside of, parallel to and at a distance from theplanes of the normal front face, that is, so positioned as to follow theplanes of the next succeeding front face.

In other cases a cut is formed of the shape of a large loop, whichsevers a block of the coal at the top and at the bottom, and at verticallines (inwardly remote from the front face) connecting' the top kerfsection and the bottom kerf section.

In still other cases it has been proposed to cut a horizontal kerfin-relatively high horizontal planes along the front face and picksthenput into operation a machine having planes intersecting the planesof the normaly front face of the coal; this being in contradistinctionfrom the chamber formed and the manner of forming it, incident to theuse of the heading or breast machine.

rIhe present mechanism differs materially and is gradually A.

from all of the earlier machines which move i bodily continuously ontransverse lines, that is, on lines parallel tothe front face, in that Iprovide a blow-striking,

coal-breaking tool' which, is so arranged' as to producev thetransversely advancing coal face that intersects the vertical planes ofthe normal front face, the tool being' adapted to impart the blows atoption at any of the points distributed this transversely advancingface. l

Such mechanism enables me to dispense with the numerous cuttinglelements and the complicated cutter carriers which have been necessaryto carry and to operate the cutters in the other mechanisms abovereferred to. The kerf extends from sixy to eight feet under the coal andprovides clearance for the vertical movement of the mass V.whendislodged. Thev mass being without support at the fron-t face, it iscomparatively easily dislodged at the top and at the inner verticalplanes by the blows of the pick. .These can be delivered at pointsimmediately `adjacent to thekerf or at points near to the top of thecoal mass. Most of the coal formations are such that when a singleclearance kerf is cut the blowsof the tool are suflicient to separatethe material at the inner vertical lines of the kerf from the solidnative mass beyond them. I do not limit myself to a single horizontalkerf but have found this sufficient where the coal is not one of thetougher or more tenacious sorts.' A breaking down device of this sort isof advantage when it is desired to em-. ploy a conveyer such asisvillustrated. The

vertically and longitudinally over justed vertically or horizontally asdesired, Without either of these parts of the mechanism interfering withthe other. The coal dropping from the pick point falls directly to theconveyer.

This 'rear wall or free face is in a vertical 'plane which is at anangle or is inclined to the normal front face, and it is approximatelyparallel to the vertical plane of the lines along which the undercuttersact as they1 advance. The blows of the pick are delivered on linesapproximately perpendicularor at right angles to the said vertical planeat the forward end of the kerf. The mechanism in this respect difersfrom those in which undercutters have been used which are thrustdirectly forward into the coal and above which drills have been placedwhose blows are directed against the front normal face of the coal.

l. In a mining mechanism adapted to l travel continuously along thenormal front movable .continuously along" said normal front face, aninward projecting horizontal -kerf cutter carried by the frame, a toolholder carried by said frame, a blow-strikvin'g coal-breaking pickmounted on said holder and adjustable as set forth to impart blows tothe coal at optionally selected points distributed vertically andlongitudi nally overthe said transversely advancing longitudinal face.2. In a minin apparatus ofthe class described, the com ination of theframe adapted to be moved while in operation along the 5 said frameholderat successive points alongI normal front face of a native coalbed,

means engaging said Aframe to f hold it to predetermined lines of traveltransversely along said face, means for fastening the ylongitudinallines intersecting'said face, for

. successive operations, a horizontal kerf cutter carried by said frame,and a blow-striking coal-breaking. piel;` movable bodily on l `linesparallel to said lines of advance of the kerf cutter and arranged tobreak down the undercut c'oal and form a transversely advancing facepositioned in vertical planes intersecting the planes of the front coal`face and to optionally apply blows in different directions at pointsdistributed over the said longitudinal transversely advanc= ing face.

3 In a mining apparatus of the class described, the combination of theframe adapted to be moved along and close to the front l face of anative coal bed, means engaging said frame to hold it to predeterminedtransverse lines of travel, devices for fastening said holding means inplace at successive point-s along longitudinal lines intersecting saidface, a horizontal Vkerf cut-- ter carried by said frame, a. tool holdermovable bodily on lines parallel to the lines of advance of the kerfcutter and held to said lines by said fastening devices, and ablow-striking coal-breaking pick mounted onsaid holder and arranged tobreak down A the coal behind the kerf cutter and form a chamber with atransversely advancing wall extending vertically from the horizontalkerf, said pick being adapted to impart blows in optionally varieddirections at points distributed over the said transversely advancingface.

4. In a coalmining apparatus adapted to be moved bodily, whileoperating, on lines parallel and close to the normal front face of anative bed of coal, the combination of an inward projecting horizontalkerf cutter, a frame carrying said cutter and hav,- ing an elementextending into and movable in the kerf, a support on said frame ele'ment positioned in vertical lines inside of the planes of the "saidfront coal face, a

. horizontally swingingV tool carrier on said support, and a verticallyadjustable blowimparting coal-breakin pick mounted on xSaid carrier andpositioned bodily inside 'of the vertical planes of the front coal face,said pick being adapted,v to impart blows to the coal above the kerf anddirected on lines approximately parallel to-the linesl of advance of thekerfcutter.

5. In a mining apparatus of the class described, the combination of theframe adapted to be positioned close, and to be moved parallel. to thenormal front face of a native coal bed, means to hold the frame topredetermined lines lwhile advancing transversely lalong the face, aninward projecting horizontal kerf cutter carried by said frame,fastening devices to secure the frame holder atI successive points alonglongitudinal lines'intersecting the said face, a tool holder mounted to.travel bodily simultanef-ously with the coal cutter along said frontface,l a blow-striking, coal-breaking pick mounted on the said toolholder and arranged to break down the coalv behind said Icutter and forma chamber with a trans- 4 versely advancing wall, said pick beingarranged to impartblows to said transversely advancing wall at pointsdistributed vertically and horizontally over its face, and poweractuated feedin exert draft on the pic planes of the/front face of thecoa means arranged to j` at points near the the coal,

out the forming of said kerf and separate it from the overlying materiall coal remaining in the vertical lines idly together,

6. In a coal mining apparatus adapted to be moved bodily, whileoperating, on lines close and parallel to the normal front face of anative coal bed, the combination of means for cutting a horizontal kerfin a conveyer having its forward lower end positioned relatively behindthe kerf cutter to vreceive broken down coal, a power-actuatedblow-striking coal-breaking pick-like tool' positioned to extend, whenin operation, across thev vertical longitudinal planes of the conveyeryand to break down the coalfthereupon, and form a gradually elongatingtransversely positioned chamber behind the kerf cutter and having aforward advancing wall with a vertical face in planes intersecting thevertical planes of the normal front face ofthe coal, said pick beinguniversally adjustable and adapted to strike blows at points distributedover the face of the said transversely advancing wall, means supportingthe kerf cutter and the pick, means connecting their supports rigandmeans for advancing them together bodily along the front face ofthecoal.

7. In a mining mechanism adapted to travel continuously along the normalfront face of a coal bed and .to form a relatively shallow horizontalkerf and to remove the coal positioned in the vertical lines of the kerfby ablow-striking picking action with:

either horizontal or vertical, the combination of a frame adapted to bemoved continuously along said normal front face, a cutter carried .bythe frame for forming a single relatively shallow horizontal kerf whichis continuouslyv lengthened transversely while the machine is in vand ablow-striking coal-breaking pick' movable bodily on\lines parallel tothe lines of advance of the kerf cutter and arranged break down the coalin thevertical lines and `also separate it from its ative bed on theinnermost vertical llines of t e kerf,`said pick being adapted-to form atransversely advancing face in planes intersecting the planes of-thefront face by imparting blows in optionally varied directions at pointsdistributed over the said transversely Iadvancing face. 8. In a mmlngmechanism adapted totravel continuously along the front. face of a coalbed and.` form a single relatively shallow horizontal kerf and todislodge the kerf and form parallel to the face a adually elongatmgtransverse chamber by inan angle to the 10. The combination of the mainframe movable laterally along the coal face, the. of supplemental kerfsoperation,

of said by cleavage from arate it from the solid mass beyond it, thecombination of a frame, means for moving it along said normal frontface, a cutting mechanism carried by the frame which forms a singlerelatively shallow horizontal kerf, a blow-striking coal-breaking pickarranged to impart blows to the coal andform behind the kerf cutter achamber with a.

gradually advancing forward wall and to break the coal above the kerffrom the solid material above it and also break it from "the solidnative Vcoal behind it, said coal tending in operation from pointsoutsidel u the coal face to points near the innermost lineof the kerflines of travel of the said plate deliver coal and power mechanism onthe main frame in front of the conveyer, and means for breakcutters andto have and arranged to follow the thereto, the motor ing the coal downadapted to attack the coal f above the conveyer and on vertical'planesat front face of the coal.

cutting apparatus projecting therefrom to undercut the coal, means onthe `frame outside the bounding lines of 'the coal face for moving theframe. and cutting apparatus laterally along the face of the coal, and acoal breaking pick carried by the`frame and arranged to impart blows onlines approximately at right angles to the vertical plane of the forwardend of the kerf'fonned by the undercutters.

11. The combination of the main frame movable laterally along the coal-f ace, the cutters projecting therefrom to undercut the coal, means on'the frame outside the bounding lines of the coal face for moving theframe and the undercutters alongy the face of the coal, said vframeextending into the kerf formed by the undercutters, anda coal breakingpick carried b Y the frame and adapted to form a free face on the coalinside of and at an angleto its normal front face and said pick beingarranged to impart blows to a face suc-h as last aforesaid while bodilyadvancing with the ratus.

In testimony whereof, I aliiX my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

.NILs D. LEVIN. Witnesses: f

E. P. SNIVELY, F. E. MILLER.

cutting appa-

